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Southwestern Minnesota Synod
News & Events - October 17, 2013
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"Oh, Lord of the Harvest, send a crowd to your field, send people who'll labor for a bountiful yield.
Please keep us from worry, please turn us your way. Oh, Lord of the Harvest, send us partners today."
-Church Innovations
The Harvest
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
We cannot help but pray for the harvesters this time of year, asking God to keep them safe as they work long and hard. As a farmer's son I could never gather the harvest without thinking about the gift it was from God. The crops growing and producing grain for food always was a miracle to experience.
 When the church talks about a harvest it is also talking about how God's Spirit has planted, watered, grown and prepared people to become Christ followers and to sustain them as Christ followers. We see signs of God's harvest when we hear the Good News and are changed as we grow deeper into the cross of Christ. We see signs of the harvest of God's work every time a new household comes to worship or old member returns. We see signs of the harvest every time we see someone share their gifts to build up the Church or to love their neighbors. We are both ones harvested by God and ones who are sent to gather the harvest through loving God's world and sharing the Good News in our words and actions..
The poem from Church Innovations points to the mission of God for this world. This year we have been dwelling in a text from Luke that talks about the harvest. Luke 10 says at its opening, After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
 In the past few weeks at the Conference of Bishops meeting, at Luther Seminary and as I have installed pastors and witnessed the gifted service of the baptized; I keep giving thanks for the work of the Spirit at calling forth leaders to serve in gathering the Harvest. At Luther Seminary I ran into several of our seminarians and in this picture caught three of our former interns Kris Isder, Ericka Benson Buller and Amy Swenson who are now Seniors and preparing to go out into the harvest. I gave thanks to God for all the people, the congregations and their families who have supported them.
I would ask you pray and think about where God is calling you to serve in the great harvest of these days. I would also ask you to watch for people who God might be calling to serve as ordained ministers of the Gospel and other ministers of word and service. If you think someone might have this calling, invite them to think about it.
When I listen to seminarian's call stories God uses someone to invite them to imagine serving in the great harvest of God. Sometimes it is a comment or question when they are young. Sometimes God invites them as a young adult through some messenger. Often this call comes when people are middle aged or even growing older.
God treasures all the baptized living out their many callings in the great Harvest of God. Thanks for all you have done, are doing and will do to love your neighbors, care for creation and proclaim the Good News that through Jesus we know God is for us and with us. |
 Presiding Bishop Eaton's Installation
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
This is my favorite picture from the installation of our new presiding bishop. It captured the day and it captures who I know
Bp. Eaton to be. It was a great day.
I was thankful to have ELCA Church Council Members Oliver Thul (and Pr. Jennifer Thul his mom) and Pr. Joyce Graue (and Ian her spouse) present that day. If you want to see more pictures go to my Facebook page or Ian Graue's page
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 Book of the Month Project
+ Bishop Jon V. Anderson
I would like to invite everyone to join me in reading a Wide Welcome: How the Unsettling Presences of Newcomers Can Save the Church by Jessicah Krey Duckworth. You can find it at Augsburg Fortress or other book sellers. I will be sharing reflections and thoughts on our Synod Facebook page. Conversation will start the first week of November.
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Youth & Family Workshop
Thursday, November 14, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
SW MN Synod Office, 175 E. Bridge St, Redwood Falls
Youth ministers have a unique opportunity to attend a workshop on the brain and ministry. On November 14, Mark Schoepp will be coming to the synod office in Redwood Falls the do a workshop for youth ministers and conference deans.
Mark Schoepp will be presenting two workshops, "Brain - Gain not Drain" is focused on three simple but powerful concepts for being good stewards of our bodies, and especially our brains.
And "The Brain and Planning in the Church" shares how current brain research informs our planning for education, community service, outreach and worship.
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Military Chaplains
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
If you want to know a bit more about what our military chaplains do, this video gives you a glimpse as it invites people to serve.
 | | Consider Military Chaplaincy |
Your synod helped make this video happen. We are working on a version that could be shared with congregations in a mission minute as well. Chris Kiewel on the staff of Bethlehem in St. Cloud did the work as he lives out his calling as a communication specialist.
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Raising "OUR" Children: The Congregational Approach!
Sunday, November 14, 2013 at 5:00pm
Sillerud Lutheran Church, 620 221st, Balaton, MN Speaker Marilyn Sharpe will start at 5:45pm. Click here to learn more about Marilyn Sharpe.This event is for the whole congregation! Even if you have no children or your children are grown and gone, YOU have the ability to impact and teach the children around you how much God loves them. Let us break down the walls and help these young overworked and heavily stressed parents, so they can feel comfortable in our congregations and blessed by the relationships that their children have with other parishioners. Entertainment & child care provided! Sponsored by SW MN Prairie Conference and Women of ELCA.
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Clergy Spouse Death Notice
Let us hold the Krueger family in our prayers as they grieve, mourn, remember and give thanks to God for the promises we know in Christ Jesus. 
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Shoulder-to-Shoulder Campaign
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175 East Bridge St. PO Box 499
507-637-3904
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